Ribbon-inking machine



Patented Sept. 16, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

N mi L. A. PHILLIPS.

RIBBON INKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 7. 1919.

1,3 1 6,388. Patented Sept. 16, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2. ,mo

101 i 296 if I J11 v 61 6 Jz 53 i as 24 E a G8 60 68 L. A. PHILLIPS. RIBBON INKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 7. I919.

1 ,3 1 6,388. Patented Sept. 16, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3..

Clftouau,

LELAN'D A. PHILLIPS, 01 ROCHESTER, NEW YORK. Q

BIIBBON-IITKING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LELAND A. PHILLIPS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ribbon- Inking Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provlde a new. and improved machine and method for impregnatlng or saturating typewriter ribbons with liquid ink.

Another object of this invention is'to have the 'uninked portion of the ribbon as it passes from the reel to the ink container absoib the surplus ink carried off by the I'll)- bon from the ink container.

These and other objects of this invention will be fully illustrated in the drawings, described in the specification and pointed out in the claims at the end thereof.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a partial cross section and end.

elevation of the machine, the section being taken on the line 2" of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the ink container.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross section through the ink container, the section being taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 -5 of Fig. 1 showing an end elevation of the reel on which the finished ribbon is wound.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the ink applying mechanism showing the path of the ribbon as it passes over the different parts of the machine to absorb the surplus ink which is finally applied to the ribbon during its travel along the bottom of the ink container.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the adjustable guide for guiding the ribbon through the pressure rollers.

In the several figures of the drawings, like'reference numerals indicate like parts.

The machine shown in the accompanying drawings is especially adaptable for the making of two color ribbons such as red and black. purple and black, or any other combination of colors. On these ribbons the ink is applied so that one half of it is saturated with one color and the other half with the other color with a very fine dividing line in the middle on which no ink is ap- Speciflcation of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 16, 1919.

Application filed April 7, 1919. Serial No. 288,125.

plied. While other machines have heretofore been used for making these ribbons, the operation has been very slow and ineflicient in the application of the ink.

In the machine forming the subject matter of this invention, the ribbon as it unwinds from this wheel, is made to absorb the surplus ink applied to the ribbon and in so doing has a preliminary coating of ink applied to it before the final application of ink is made thereon. Any surplus ink apphed to the ribbon is, therefore, not wasted as is the case in other machines where the surplus ink is absorbed by an absorbing agent other than the ribbon which is to be coated. It has also been found in practice that the inking operation can be performed at a much eater speed where the ribbon to be inked lots or absorbs its own surplus ink instead of being absorbed by a separate agent which is brought into contact with the ribbon after the ribbon has. the ink applied thereto.

The machine shown in the accompanying drawing comprises a. frame which is .built up of a pair of parallel reels 1 and 2 that are held together and properly spaced apart by suitable cross members and supported by the standards 3 and 4.

A pair of uprights 5 and 6 are mounted on the frame, one on each of the reels 1 and 2, which uprights are held together at the top by the cross member 7 Each of the uprights 5 and 6 has a vertical slot 8 in which a bearing block 9 is mounted to slide. The pressure rollers 10 and 11 are mounted to rotate between the uprights 5 and 6, the bearings for the roller 10 being provided in the bearing blocks 9 and the bearings for the roller 11 being provided in the uprights 5 and 6 proper. The bearing blocks 9 hold the roller 10 yieldingly in contact with the roller 11 by means of the springs 12 which are interposed between the bearing block 9 and a washer 13 provided on the end of the adjusting screw 14. This screw is threaded into the cross member 7 and is adapted to hold the washer 14 at any elevation in. the recess 8. By adjusting the screw 14 the pressure exerted by the spring 12 on the hearing 16 inwhich the horizontal shaft 17 is held in place, the set screw 18 bein rovided to prevent the shaft 17 from ing laterally 1n the hearing. A stationary collar 19 and a movable collar 20 are carried on the shaft 17 and are adapted to hold the reel 100 on which the ribbon is wound in place on the shaft. The collar 20 is forced against the side of the reel 100 by the spring 21 which surrounds the shaft-17 and is interposed between the collars 20 and the hand wheel 22. The hand wheel 22 is threaded on the end of the shaft 17 so that the spring 21 may be compressed to increase or decrease the frictional contact between the collar 20 and the reel 100. This in turn governs the force necessary tov rotate the reel on the unwindin of the ribbon therefrom and prevents a s ackening of the ribbon as it passes through the machine.

The rollers 10 and 11 have the gears 23 and 24 keyed to the shafts on which they are mounted. These gears are located on one side of the machine to mesh with each other. The shaft of the roller 11 has also the cone pulley 25 keyed thereto, which pulley is driven by a suitable belt so as to rotate the roller 11 and with it the roller 10 through the gears 23 and 24. The rollers 10 and 11 are driven in opposite directions in such a manner that the ribbon after leaving the reel 100 and passing under the guide rod 26 is pulled through between the rollers 10 and 11. After passing through the rollers the ribbon is ided onto the fingers 27 and 28 which pro ect horizontally from the arm 15 but angularly to the axes of the rollers 10 and 11. While passin over these fingers the ribbon is deflec sidewise from its original ath as it passes over the cross member 7 and down on the other side of the rollers to the fingers 29 and 30. The fingers 29 and 30 deflect the ribbon back and guide it onto the idle roller 31 which is in line with the reel 100 and the point on the rollers at t which the ribbon has previously passed therethrough. The fin rs 27 and 28 are mounted to rock in a sultable bear' in the arm 15 and are forced upward by t e leaf spring 101 to keep the ribbon. taut as it passes over the fin rs.

After leaving e rollers 31 the ribbon passes over the uide rod 32 and again through between the rollers 10 and 11.

The guide rod 32 carries suitable flanges between which the ribbon asses on its way to the rollers 10 and 11. e flanges on the rod 32 may be moved laterally in either dimotion to increase or decrease the space between the flan es in order to accommodate ribbons of di erent widths. For this urpose the rod 32 is made up in two sections, each of which is threaded on the outer end and passes through suitable lugs in the uprights 5 and 6, a knurled h d e being provided at the outer end to enable the rotation of each section of the rod- One of the sections of the rod 32 has a hollow center into which an extension of reduced diameter rovided on the other section of the r is adapted to engage. By reason of this engement both sections of the rod 32 are eld together in the middle and may be moved independently or simultaneously in either direction to accommodate different widths of ribbon or correct the path of the ribbon so as to guide it to the middle or any other point between the rollers 10 and 11.

On the other side of the roller the ribbon during its second passage through the rollers 10 and 11 passes down to and around the rod 33, from which it travels to the rod 34 and the idle roller 35. The rod 34 and the idle roller 35 are mounted at each end of the swinging yoke 36 which is pivoted between the reels 1 and 2. A counterweight 37 is fastened at one end of the yoke to balance the yoke to put a predetermined tension on the ribbon as it passes over the rod 34 and under the ulley 35.

After leavin t e ulley 35 the ribbon passes onto an over the rod 38 by which it is guided under the ink container 39.

The ink container applies the ink to the ribbon as it passes the openings provided in the bottom of the container, a felt pad 40 being adapted, to hold the ribbon tightly against these openings to prevent an excess amount of ink from accumulating thereon or leaking out from the openings in the container at each side of the ribbon.

The container illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is adapted to apply to the ribbon two colors of ink, or one color only. For this purpose the rectangular box formin the container is divided longitudinally in the middle by the partition 42. At the bottom of each of the compartments formed by the partition 42 are the openings 43 and 44 which are separated by the partition and are formed as slots that run half way the length of each of the compartments. Held against these slots in the bottom of the ink container is the felt pad 40. This pad is laced between suitable rails provided at the ttom of the container and is forced against the outside of the slots 43 and 44by the clampin screw 46 which is threaded in the bridge 4 provided on the underside of the container 1 below the pad 40.

The guide rod 38 is mounted in suitable lugs 48 fastened to the rear of the container and has a pair of flanges provided thereon between which the ribbon is adapted to pass to guide it along the bottom of the container. One end of the rod 38 is threaded and engages a correspondingly threaded opening in one of the lugs 48. The other end of the rod has a knurled head fastened thereto by means of which the rod may be turned in 13o therein after either direction so as to move it endwise to line up the ribbon with the middle of the container. In this way the two colors of ink are equally applied to the ribbon as it passes below the slot of each of the compartments of the container. The partition 42 which separates these slots serves to keep the different colored inks separate on the ribbon and operates to keep a very thin line in the middle of the ribbon from having ink applied thereto.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, each of the compartments of the container is partially closed at the top by a suitable cover. This allows the container to be swun around the shaft 48 on which it is mounted and laced in the dotted line position shown in ig. 4 without emptying the inks contained therein. When in this position the inks are held between the bottom, end and top of the container and the slots 43 and 44 are free from the ink so that the felt pad at the bottom of these slots can be removed and a new ribbon placed between it and the slots in the container.

After ink has been applied to the ribbon it passes onto the rollers 10 and 11. The inked ribbon passes t rough between these rollers at the same point where it previously had passed through, once from above the contact line between the rollers and once from below this contact line. Thus after the ink has been applied thereto the ribbon. passes through these rollers a third time. The ribbon in passing through these rollers for the third time does not come into contact with either one of these rollers as it passes through between the ribbon sections which at this point simultaneously pass through these rollers as previously described.

The pressure applied by the springs 12 to the upper roller 10 operates to squeeze the surplus ink from the ribbon as it passes between the ribbon portion at the to and at the bottom of the inked ribbon, whic ribbon portions absorb or. blot the surplus ink contained thereon. In this way the ribbon will have the proper amount of ink impregnated it has finally passed through the rollers for the third time.

The inked ribbon is then wound on the reel 49 mounted on the revolving spindle 50. The spindle 50, shown in Fig. 5, is mounted to rotate in the standard 51. The standard has two bearings 52 and 53 between which the friction clutch comprising the friction disks 54' and 55 are mounted on the spindle 50. The friction disk 54 is splined to the spindle and has a leather disk'56 suitabl fastened thereto. The friction disk is mounted to rotate idly on the spindle 50 and has a pulley 57 provided on one side thereof. A belt 58 which travels over the stepped pulleys 25 and 57 is adapted to rotate the friction disk 55 which'in turn rotates the fric tion disk 54 by reason of its frictional contact therewith. An expansion spring 58 is interposed between the collar 59 on the spindle 50 and the hub of the friction disk 54 to hold the disks 54 and 55 in frictional contact with each other.

On the outer end of the spindle 50 are mounted the collars 60 and 61 between which the reel 62 is held in place. Each of the collars 60 and 61 is rovided with a set screw 63 by means of which each collar is clamped to the spindle so as to rotate with it. A pin 64 which passes through a suitable hole in each of the collars and the reel from one 001- lar to the reel and into theiother collar is adapted to key the will rotate the reel when the spindle 50 revolves.

The friction clutch through which the spindle 50 is driven is necessary to allow the reel to gradually turn at a reduced speed. This is possible as the disks can slip past each other as the reel is slightly held back on the winding of the ribbon thereon as its diameter increases.

While this machine has been described as being capable of making two color ribbons, it is understood that the same mechanism is adaptable for the purpose of making one color ribbon. In the later case the ink container is not divided into two compart ments and only one slot is necessary to allow the ink to come in contact with the full width of the ribbon as it passes by the opening.

I claim:

1. The method of inking ribbons which consists of the application of a semi-liquid ink to the ribbon and then passing the inked portion of the ribbon between uninked portions of the same ribbon while traveling in the same direction between a, pair of pressure rollers which operate to squeeze out the ink from the inked portion of the ribbon so that the uninked portions of the ribbon absorb the surplus ink which is squeezed out of the inked portions of the ribbon.

.2. The method of inking ribbons which consists of passing the uninked portions of the ribbon between a pair of pressure rollers and then applying ink thereto and passing the ribbon again between the same pair'of pressure rollers in the same direction and in such a manner that the uninked portions of the ribbon will be forced simultaneously against the upper and lower sides of the inked portions of the ribbon while the ink is squeezeg out thereof, the surplus ink squeeze out of the inked portions of the ribbon being absorbed by the uninked portions of the ribbon.

. In a machine for inking ribbons, the combination of a frame, a pair of pressure rollers mounted to rotate in said frame, a reel from which the ribbon is wound, and

reel to these collars and guide members to ide difierent sections of the same ribbon rom said reel simultaneously between said rollers,

4. In a machine for inking ribbons, the combination of a frame, a pair of ressure rollers mounted to rotate in said name, a reel from which the ribbon is wound, uide members to guide difierent sections 0 the ribbon from said reel simultaneously between said rollers, an ink container, and means to apply ink to the ribbon from said ink container and pass the inked portion of the ribbon between the sections of the inked ribbon that pass between the pressure rollers.

5. In a machine for inking ribbons, the combination of a frame, a pair of pressure rollers mounted to rotate in said frame, a reel from which the ribbon is unwound, an ink container, and guide members on said frame, said guide members being ca able to guide the ribbon, first, between sai rollers, then over said rollers, then back between said rollers to said ink container *and from said ink container between said uninked ribbon portions to pass simultaneously between said uninked ribbon portions and said pressure rollers.

6. In a machine for inking ribbons, the combination of a frame, a reel mounted on said frame, a pair of pressure rollers, a pair of guide fingers mounted above said rollers, said guide fingers bein adapted to deflect the path of the rlbbon si ewise, the second pair of guide fingers to deflect the path of t B ribbon back to its original path and again between said pressure rollers, an ink container, means for applying ink to the ribbon from said ink container, and means to pass the inked ribbon between the pressure rollare at the same point as the uninked ribbon and simultaneously therewith.

In testimony whereof I aflix my'signature.

LELAND A. PHILLIPS.

It is hereby cereifieci that in Lelztorg: Patent N o. 1,3l6,388,grantred September 16,

1919, upon the application of LelandlA. Phillips, of Rochester, New York, for

improvement in Ribbon-Ioking Machines," an error appears in the printed specificetion requiring correction as follows: Page-4, claim 4, line 13, for the word "inked" read uninked; and that the said Letters Patent should be road with this correction therein thct the same mcy-doxiform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice. I

Signed and sealed this 11th day of November, A. D., 1919.

we M. H. COULSTON,

Acting Commianoner' of Patmh. 01. 91-29. 

